G.I. Joe Classified Series Low-Light review

Low-Light had one of the coolest introductions of any G.I. Joe in “Arise Serpentor Arise.” He and Sci-Fi showed up Wet-Suit and Leatherneck big time at target practice. It didn’t hurt that Low-Light had one of the coolest figure from the 1986 wave of Joes either.

When Hasbro began its initial revitalization of the Joe brand, Low-Light got easily one of the Top 5 figures in the Pursuit of Cobra subsection. 2D Sculpts designed that figure and was able to do the same when it was time for Low-Light to get the G.I. Joe Classified Series treatment.  That all but ensured this was gonna be a strong contender for best in the 2023 class.

Let’s see if the Classified Series Low-Light hits the target or fails to meet my admittedly lofty expectations.

Packaging: The Joe team kinda won the whole closed window packaging limitations. Setting up a cool presentation with an action shot telling a story in the Joe lore. In this case it’s Low-Light skulking in the shadows evading a squad of Cobra troopers. I spent way too much time trying to decipher the purpose of that white laptop/container. Is it a tease for wave mates Mainframe or Dial-Tone?

He’s got the now standard white stripe with the accessory rollout at the right side with a cool comic-style portrait below. The side features the QR Code of nothingness and a smaller readout of his skill sets. On the other side is a larger version of the artwork.

Over on the back we get his full accessory layout and larger images of his skill set. As you’d expect, Low-Light scores a full mastery score of 4 in marksman and long-range weapons and 2 in night combat and urban combat.

The bio is re-used from the original Real American Hero figure:

As a child Low-Light was afraid of the dark until one precarious outdoor expedition. He was found three weeks later with a flashlight and a grin from ear to ear. “Wait until dark. It doesn’t matter what field of fire the bad guys control—the night belongs to Low-Light.”

Likeness: How awesome is Low-Light? Let me count the ways…

First up this is an excellent translation of the Real American Hero design to the Classified Series format. The POC Low-Light was awesome, but the jacket was a separate piece that created a little extra bulk.

This figure is far more streamlined and looks lithe enough to properly maneuver around as the Joe’s top sharpshooter.

His head sculpt is fantastic. He’s got his toboggan hat with a little tuft of his slightly curly hair coming down.

I appreciate the effort done on the outfit right down to the raised collar. The shoulder pad on his right side to rest the butt of the sniper rifle. All the elements of the original are intact including the small green grenades along his left shoulder strap.

Low-Light has tiny details like zippers, pouches and buckles. There are some new elements like the padded forearms and shins.

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Paint: All of the paintwork is exceptionally clean. The shoulder pad has a toned down/muted red. There’s some nice work with the silver buckles and good work with the charcoal grey pads, gloves, boots and straps.

With the original and POC figure, those darker grey elements were black. They’re dark enough that it gets the point across though I’d rather the CS team went with the flat black.

His trademark green grenades remain intact. Easily my favorite aspect about Low-Light’s paintwork is the bags under his eyes indicating a severe lack of sleep. That’s just superb attention to detail and doing a little something extra in a way that smartly enhances a figure.

Scale:  Low-Light is average height and is about eye level with figures like Beach Head and Gen. Hawk.

Articulation: Low-Light is the Joe’s main sniper so he needs to be able to hit a variety of deep aiming poses.

As a Classified Series figure that’s not a problem at all. Thanks to better range with the barbell neck joint, he’s able to convey plenty of personality.

With nice and tight joints, Low-Light can convincingly hold and maintain poses.

Low-Light has:

• head
• neck
• shoulders (butterfly)
• elbow (double-jointed)
• wrist
• wrist hinge
• mid-torso
• torso
• waist
• hips (ball-jointed)
• drop down hips
• knees (double-jointed)
• ankles

Accessories: The Pursuit of Cobra Low-Light was a masterclass in stocking a figure with a ton of accessories. Not just random crap to throw onto the figure, but essential pieces that really added to the figure.

The CS version might not have as many, but it’s pretty darned close.

First up is the backpack. It’s big and massive. I’m imagining it’s full of extra bullets and snacks to keep him alert during extended stake out periods.

It doesn’t rest as flush in the back as I’d like and tends to push out from the peg hole. This leads to some balancing issues and can tip him over in the wrong pose. Surprisingly it actually stays in and won’t fly off like some other packs.

Low-Light has a wind gauge, a sensible accessory, with some excellent details.

This slides into the pouch on his left leg.

Additionally, he’s got a knife with a very cool hilt and a silver blade. That fits in neatly into the right leg sheath.

Taking a nod from the POC figure, Low-Light’s goggles are removable. They’re a snug fit, which I appreciate so they’re not flying off every time The red paint interior of the goggles is clean with no slop carrying over onto the sides.

Low-Light’s RAH and POC figures came with an UZI for his smaller weapon. My pal and my go-to expert on Joe weapons, Action Figure Barbecue, thinks Hasbro used a KRISS Vector as the inspiration for the CS figure. This can attach to the side of the backpack and it has a removable clip.

Time for the big dog accessory. Like the POC figure, Low-Light comes with a sniper rifle case.

Per AFB, Low-Light is using a Remington M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle. It includes a bunch of functional options from the attachable scope, suppressor and bipod.

You don’t have to have them on, but it does make for a more impressive visual, which is helpful since the scope won’t stay on with even a little movement on the rifle. There’s also a removable clip with this as well.

Worth it?  This wave of Classified Series was $24. As usual, this is the one line that packs so much accessories and gear that it justifies the price point. You can get him now for a slight discount at $22.

Rating: 9.8 out of 10

Backpack issues aside, this is another major winner from Hasbro. Low-Light is another that’s hard to deny for any legitimate Joe Top 10 list of 2023.

Where to get it?  Low-Light is out of stores now, but you can get him easily enough online. He’s available right now on Amazon and Entertainment Earth.